H.E.Adventures

And so this trip is also concluded.

When we arrived, the first impression was really generic, a slow transition from modern and anonymous buildings into a more historical and medieval center, but as we walked down the narrow streets and started to interact with things, we got hit with the realization of why this capital city is so popular; Prague feels intimate.

Like every main city, overcrowded tourism might at times ruin your experience, but if you plan to avoid the peak hours and walk further down the way into the not-so-popular spots, Prague will suddenly reward you with its great vibes, secret beer gardens to relax, bizarre and historical statues often placed in unexpected spots, and much more.

The grandeur of its Castle and the Old Town Square do not define this place; it is a city with a long and conflicted history that has slowly piled up and blended, giving shape to this place we now call Prague.

We've got more stories to tell, and we hope you will follow us in the next chapter.

Czechia 1.0 - Completed

Situated between the Old Town and the Vltava River, Josefov is the historic Jewish Quarter of Prague.

While best known for the oldest active synagogue in Europe and its many-layered cemetery as a result of centuries of segregation, the area also features several meaningful statues and memorials that reference the rich history of the quarter.

Franz Kafka was born in this area during the so-called Asannace, a radical renewal of the urban plan that transformed the streets of the quarter from slums into the beautiful nouveau buildings we see today; these radical changes and the struggle to find his identity in an ever-changing environment are often at the core of his stories.

Other sculptural elements are quieter but equally powerful, such as the memorial plaques embedded in synagogue walls and the symbolic artwork within the Pinkas Synagogue, where the names of nearly 80,000 Czech Jewish victims of the Holocaust are inscribed.

Another popular figure is Judah Loew ben Bezalel, a respected philosopher and educator of the 16th century, who grew popular through a local legend that claims he created a Golem to protect his people, whose remains are said to be still stored in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue.

Situated on a rocky hill overlooking the Vltava River, Vyšehrad stands as one of Czechia's most iconic places with its breathtaking view of Prague.

Originally established to guard the region, today the complex is almost an open-air gallery with a spacious and charming park filled with symbolic sculptures that depict figures from the Bohemian mythology.

Within its walls are the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul and Vyšehrad Cemetery, the final resting place for many renowned Czech figures.

A short distance away stands the Rotunda of St. Martin, the oldest surviving Romanesque building in Prague, with a Prussian cannonball stuck to it, dating to the siege during the Seven Years’ War.
One of the curious things you can find in Vyšehrad is Devil’s Stone. These three broken pillars stand near the Basilica and are connected to a local legend.

The story claims that the Devil made a bet with a priest, claiming he could bring a column from the Vatican before the priest finished celebrating Mass. When the Devil lost the bet, he shattered the column into three pieces.

Standing on the top of Letná Hill is one of the most striking modern landmarks of Prague, the Metronome.

The giant version of the music tool with its red pendulum was created by Vratislav Karel Novák and is one of the city's most iconic symbols. It represents the passing of time and the city moving away from its communist era.

The metronome itself replaces the more infamous colossal statue of Stalin towering over the city, which, ironically, was completed 2 years after the passing of the soviet leader.

The structure under the metronome is an old bunker that had the most varied uses over the years, from hosting pirate radios to underground clubs; today is the resting place of the remains of the granite colossus of Stalin.

The point of interest is possibly the best spot to enjoy both the sunrise and sunset over Prague, and is really popular among locals as a gathering place reachable both by walking stairs or by tram, definitely worth the trip just for the view.

On our last day, we decided to take one step back from the busy spots and visit the less crowded areas of Prague.

We started the morning by hopping on a tram to Letna Park to enjoy a spectacular view of the city as the sun rose.

We took another couple of trams to reach Vyšehrad, the serene fortress in the South of the city. Here, we walked through its garden and enjoyed the suggestive views of the Vltava River.

We descended from the fortress, headed back to the Old Town, where we spent the afternoon wandering around Josefov doing some shopping and buying souvenirs before dinner.

Following the need to expand the boundaries of Prague, Charles IV decided to build Nové Město in the Fourteenth Century with the objective to transform the city into the new Rome.

The New Town had spacious spaces for the time and developed around 3 main market squares to host the more common industries, resolving the overcrowding issues experienced by Old Town.

Because of its development over the years, Nové Město hosts many unique buildings, such as the Dancing House, the National Theatre, and many other structures in Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. The New Town is ornamented with a great variety of sculptures that really engage the visitors and add to the unique atmosphere this area of Prague offers.

Nové Město is where most of the action happens, around its squares, visitors can enjoy shopping or wander around in the late hours to discover Prague’s Nightlife. In the summer, the riverbank transforms into the main gathering spot enjoy the view of the Vltava river while the sun sets.

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Situated in the heart of Prague’s New Town is the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

This Baroque chapel was originally a place of cult dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo for the retired members of the Carmelite Order living in its proximity; it was later deconsacrated and served as a military warehouse for over one and a half centuries before being handed over to the Orthodox Church and renamed after the Saints Cyril and Methodius in 1935.

Bishop Gorazd, with the help of other priests, became really involved with the resistance after Prague was occupied by the N**i and helped many to hide and escape during the tyranny.

A couple of years after the occupation of Prague, the Czechoslovak and the British governments joined forces to orchestrate Operation Anthropoid with the mission to assassinate the Chief of the Main Office Security, Reinhard Heydrich.

The soldiers Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš were sent to Prague to study the target and execute the plan. The ambush of Heydrich didn’t go as expected, and the two soldiers fled the scene, thinking they had failed the mission. Fortunately for them, Heydrich's wounds resulted in sepsis, killing him.

The N**i retribution was merciless, and many were killed while the duo joined other teams and hid in the cathedral’s crypt; however, they were betrayed and in hundreds, sieged the church.

The paratroopers held ground for many hours, but they were ultimately overwhelmed and chose not to be captured alive. Bishop Gozard took full responsibility and was executed; he was later canonized as a martyr.

Today, the crypt is a National Memorial that can be visited; the walls inside and outside the crypt still preserve the bullet scars from the day the seven paratroopers had their Last Stand.
canonised

The paratroopers held ground for many hours, but they were ultimately overwhelmed and chose not to be captured alive. Bishop Gozard took full responsibility and was executed; he was later canonised as a martyr.

Staré Město is Prague’s Old Town and the city’s historical core.

Formed in the 10th century when a group of merchants chose it as a settlement due to its position between key trade routes.

Its major development and its more popular Points of Interest were established during the reign of Charles IV, including the church of Our Lady before Týn, the Town Hall and the Astronomical Clock.

Another famous POI in the main plaza is the monument to Jan Hus, the Theologian burned at the stake for heresy after he called for a church reform; his ex*****on led to the famous “Defenestration of Prague” and started the Hussite Wars.

A short walk from Old Town is Powder Gate, a 15th-century decorated Gothic tower marking the start of the Royal Route during the monarch’s coronation.

The tower took its name from the time it was allocated as a storage facility for black powder.
Today is often used as an exhibition space but still holds its role as a symbolic border between the Old Town and the New Town.

Karlův Most is the bridge that replaced the Judith Bridge in connecting the Old Town to Mala Strana after it was severely damaged by the many floods of the Vltava River.

The bridge, commissioned by King Charles IV to architect Petr Parler, had its cornerstone laid on 1357, 9th of July, at 5:31. The peculiar palindromic date and time were chosen by the king himself as part of his numerological beliefs.

The medieval sandstone arch bridge has also been an integral part of the Coronation Procession route for Bohemian kings.

At the end of the 14th century, St. John of Nepomuk was tortured and thrown into the river. A cross and a plaque on the bridge mark the position where it is thought the Martyr met his end.

In the early 17th century, the bridge was used to display the severed heads of several anti-Habsburg leaders.

A few years later, the Swedish Army tried to cross the Vltava River through the bridge, resulting in a fierce battle, which damaged the Old Town’s bridge tower.

The 30 statues that adorn Charles Bridge depict various religious figures and were first commissioned by noblemen of the time; however, many of them were damaged over the years or fell into the river during the many floods and were replaced by replicas or entirely new statues.

Charles Bridge is the heart and most recognizable symbol of Prague, holding many stories and serving as a testament to the Bohemian culture.
recognisable

Charles Bridge is the heart and most recognisable symbol of Prague, holding many stories and serving as a testament to the Bohemian culture.

On our second day in Prague, we walked across the famous Charles Bridge and headed to the Old Town.

We spent the first few hours exploring the main plaza and admiring its incredible buildings, but we reserved a slot to be sure to be able to admire the Astronomical clock show that happens every hour.

After lunch, we took a break to escape from the heat. We explored the New Town once the temperature started to drop; we got lost for hours in Prague’s charming and chaotic roads until the sun started to set.

After dinner, we walked a bit more, stopping time to time in some of the city’s beer gardens before heading back to Charles Bridge and calling it a day.

Most Legií is one of Prague’s most graceful crossings, linking the National Theatre with Újezd and Petřín Hill across the Vltava River.

Completed in 1901, the Neo-Renaissance bridge replaced the old chain bridge and was later renamed to honor the Czechoslovak Legionnaires who fought for the nation’s independence.

Its stone arches, sculpted towers, and elegant lamps blend seamlessly with the surrounding architecture, offering one of the best panoramic views of Charles Bridge, Kampa Island, and Prague Castle.
At the bridge’s eastern end stands the legendary Café Slavia, a beloved cafe built in Art Nouveau style, open since the 19th century. On its back, the painting “The Absinthe Drinker” recalls its connection with intellectual figures such as Kafka and Rilke, who used to gather here.

Along the embankment and on Archer’s Island, tourists can find installations, boats, cafes, and small shops, the perfect spots to relax during the late hours before heading off for the nightlife.

Nový Svět, meaning New World, is a small area just behind Prague Castle, offering a quiet and peaceful atmosphere in contrast to the busy lanes filled with crowds of tourists in the castle area.

This small, winding lane dates back to the 14th century, when it was originally home to castle servants, craftsmen, and later artists seeking inexpensive housing.

Unlike the monumental palaces nearby built after the great fire in the 16th century, Nový Svět retains a humble charm, with its narrow cobblestone streets, charming pastel-colored houses, and peaceful courtyards that feel untouched by time.

Throughout history, the area has attracted many bohemian artists. Painters, writers, and intellectuals have lived here, inspired by its quiet atmosphere and romantic character. Today, Nový Svět is a picturesque corner, perfect for wandering, photography, or enjoying coffee. It’s the perfect area for people who enjoy a more relaxed holiday or just a break from their daily life.